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AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



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APTAIN JOHN KEAN 



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HARRISBURG 



w^ Annotated by 
A. BOYD HAMILTON. 



HARRISBURG, PA. 

HAURISBUBG PUBLISHING COMPANY PRINT. 

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Publication of 
Dauphin County Historical Society. 



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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JOHN KEAN. 



[A daughter of Judge Kean, some time be- 
fore her death, placed the following in my 
hands, desiring that a copy of it, after ar- 
rangement, should be preserved in the library 
of the Dauphin County Historical Society. I 
was informed that the extracts were made at 
random, and without regard to order of time, 
from a much more extended and elaborate 
MSS. which it was intended should be de- 
stroyed. This appears to have been done, as 
no trace of the original could be found after 
her death. In preparing this interesting 
paper for printing and publication, a com- 
plete copy of the transcript handed to. me-fs* 
preserved for the use of local or general his- 
torians. A. Boyd Hamilton.] 



Not from hope or wish to live in the re- 
gistry of posterity; not from any desire to 
tell the world who or what I am or have 
been, but merely that my family and de- 
scendants, if any survive me, may be ena- 
bled to have a wish gratified, which has often 
obtruded itself on my mind, namely, a desire 
to know what kind of man my father was. 
No preface or apology is necessary, because 
I do not intend this shall ever be read by any 
other than my own near relations, who, with 
the mantle of friendship, will cover the 
errors from the public eye, and who will not 
find its recitations of sufficient value for the 
world to notice. A plain, unvarnished nar- 
rative of facts is all I shall attempt. 

My father and mother were both natives of 
Ireland. They both at a very early age came 
to Pennsylvania and settled near Philadel- 
phia. My mother's maiden name was Mary 
Dunlap. I was born in th° city of Philadel- 
phia on the third day of October, one thou- 
sand seven hundred and sixty-two, in a 
house a few doors south of Christ charch, on 
Second street. I was sent to an English and 
mathematical school atGermantown, six miles 
from the city. I was consigned to the care 
of this teacher for the first rudiments of 
education, (l) 



My fathe'- carried on business in the city 
of Philadelphia upon an extensive scale, en- 
gaged in shipping shoes and leather to Span- 
ish ports and elsewhere. He was successful 
for a time, but when the storm of war com- 
menced in 1774, he found a change, closed 
his accounts,paid his debts, and he and several 
others removed their families to Middletown, 
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in order to 
have them out of danger, while they returned 
anrl served as militia men when they were 
needed. He was a captain and almost al- 
ways in active service, except when he had 
camp fever. 

When in service, part of his time was occu- 
pied as guard to keep the British out of Phil- 
adelphia. As there was no money for ex- 
penses incurred by the soldiers, he advanced 
as much as he could spare, to assist in pay- 
ing the men of his company. He was never 
repaid this loan, I do not suppose he ex- 
pected to be. Instead he was given papers 
entitling him to wild land in Virginia. This 
land was not supposed to be worth looking 
after and its title lapsed for want of attention. 
He thought he had done his duty, and was 
willing to be poor for the cause of Liberty, 
and the safety of his adopted country. 

Middletown was then, in 1774, a small 
village at the junction of the Susquehanna 
river and Swatara creek, in what is now 
Dauphin, but then was Lancaster county. 

He sold his house and lot in Middletown 
in 1777, and also a farm he owned in Shear- 
man's Valley, Cumberland county. He pur- 
chased a farm at the "Pound Top," [near 
Middletown] living there several years. 
Sold that and bought a house and lot, in 
[what was afterwards] ' 'Wormleysburg, ' ' in 
Cumberland county, lived there some time 
and then bought a lot and house on the cor- 
ner of Walnut street and River alley r , Har- 
risburg. He died therein 1801. 

In 1779 being then 18 years of age, the 
time young men were enrolled in the 
militia, I was put on the roll for duty. 
In ten days thereafter I was called 



Autobiography of 



to serve my country. My recollection is 
perfect, of the joy with which the tidings 
were received by me. We were soon fitted 
for the expedition, and our company, com- 
manded by Capt. Robert McKee (2), marched 
to rendezvous. My joys were, however, em- 
bittered in seeing what a struggle it cost my 
parents to part with an only son, perhaps 
never to see him more. They, however, bid 
me go, telling me that it was the cause of 
God and my country, and that they trusted 
His all-protecting providence would restore 
me again to them in safety. 

Soon after Gen. Washington was attack- 
ing Lord Cornwallis in Virginia, and had or- 
dered a large detachment of the militia, to 
awe the British army in New York, to pre- 
vent them supporting Cornwallis in Virginia. 
This order did not reach our company for a 
long time, but as we went on we met parts 
of the detachment returning. We proceeded 
to the Delaware river, when we were ordered 
to take a number of prisoners from Phila- 
delphia to Lancaster, and guard them there 
during our full tour of duty, which we did, 
but were therefore prevented from signaliz- 
ing ourselves on the field of glory. 

My parents were of the strictest order of 
the Covenanters. I was brought up in a 
j. ious and religious manner. I was aston- 
ished beyond measure at the wickedness and 
profanity of the world, but neither those with 
whom I was associated or the impetuosity of 
youth could make me entirely forget the 
sage maxims and prudent counsel received 
from my parents. 



II. 

My father placed me with a Mr. Clunie 
(3) in Hummelstown, Dauphin County, a 
storekeeper, with whom I continued to reside 
for two years. My salary was one hundred 
dollars per year and a suit of clothes, with 
my boarding. My employment was that of 
book keeper and store assistant. Being mas- 
ter of the German language was also of very 
great service to me. Mr. C. carried on an 
extensive business in which I found constant 
employment. Having by reading and indus- 
try accpiircd some knowledge of conveyanc- 
ing, a knowledge much wanted in that part 
of the country,! determined to make my ac- 
quirements serviceable to the community and 
profitable to myself, by writing deeds, wills, 
mortgages, etc., which was done at night after 
the business of the day was over and very 
frequently employed me until midnight. By 



this kind of industry my salary was more 
than doubled in clear cash. 

In 1785, my old friend, Mr. Clunie, hav- 
ing been appointed by the Supreme Execu- 
tive Council, excise officer for the county, 
at his request I undertook the duties as his 
Deputy at th« county town. I removed to 
Harrisburg the 22d of April, 1785, where 
from the vast numbers of people crowding 
to this new place and no houses being yet 
erected, I was compelled to take lodgings 
with a Dr. Sterling a mile above town. In 
the beginning of June, 1785, I entered into 
partnership with Mr. Clunie. in storekeeping 
at Harrisburg. We erected a house and in 
August opened shop — our sales quite equaled 
our expectation. 

On the first of May, 1786, I married Mary 
Whitehill, daughter of the Honorable Robert 
Whitehill, (4) of Cumberland county. Before 
our honeymoon was ended, my fellow towns- 
men set about framing a system of police for 
the rising town and elected me a justice of 
the peace, an office altogether unthought of, 
not looked for, nor solicited by me; indeed, 
I knew nothing of the design until the even- 
ing of the election, on the 20th of June, 1786. 
I was, however, commissioned and entered 
upon the duties of the office. From this 
period I may date any troubles I have had in 
life, having been selected to office in prefer- 
ence to many others. As I could no longer 
attend the store, Mr. Clunie and myself dis- 
solved partnership in the September follow- 
ing. 

In December, 1786, having taken a house 
at the corner of Market and Second streets, I 
commenced a small store. Finding rents ex- 
travagantly high, we concluded to purchase. 
This purchase was a lot and small frame 
house on the corner of Walnut and 
Second streets, for one hundred and 
and seventy-five pounds. To this we re- 
moved in April, 1787. In the fall of this 
year I was elected County Commissioner, in 
which office, by endeavoring to reform some 
abuses in the handling of public moneys, I 
raised a hornets' nest, which to this day has 
done me every mischief, I, however, perse- 
vered in the system which appeared best cal- 
culated for the interests of those who had 
appointed me, regardless of either praise or 
censure. 

The adoption of the Federal Constitution 
about this time engaged the attention of 
every one who in any degree regarded the in- 
terests of his country. An acquaintance 
with Mr, , a gentleman in office, gav e 



John Kean, of Harrisburg. 



me frequent opportunities of hearing his 
opinion on political subjects. I revered his 
talents and eagerly attended to his argu- 
ments, all of which went to prove that the 
members of the Convention aimed only to 
make a form of Government which should 
tend to aggrandize themselves. Of course 
wdien the new Constitution appeared 
I was prepared to view it with a scru- 
tinizing eye. On first reading, the dreadful 
features predicted did not appear to be in it, 
but I saw parts ill calculated for the mere- 
dian of Pennsylvania. These I at once con- 
sidered as international blemishes, never con- 
sidering that to give and to take must alone 
be principles on which a Government could 
be formed to suit so wide extended a country 
as the United States, the inhabitants of 
which differed from each other widely in 
laws, manner, and religion. My political 
ideas of that time did not extend beyond the 
circle of Pennsylvania, and I absurdly 
thought that a Government suited to that 
State would be the form best suited to the 
whole Union. (5.) Experience has since 
taught me better, and although the Constitu- 
tion of the United States has some defects, 
as no human work is without them, I now 
believe it to be the best form of Government 
upon earth, and better calculated to insure 
an equal participation of equal rights than 
any other form. My former sentiments of 
distrust of those who made it are changed 
into admiration of their wisdom and virtues. 

In 1787 I lost my wife, and the course of 
my life was changed. I quit business and 
became deeply interested in the progress of 
schools, churches, fire companies, a library, 
improvement of streets and other needful 
improvements. (6) I sold my house for £482 
and purchased between Chestnut street and 
Market Square, fronting on Second, for 
£510, one-half of which I conveyed a few 
days afterwards to Alexander Berry hill, Esq., 
(7) for £360 thus I had as good a lot as any. 
On the 10th of December, 1789, I was again 
married, to Jane Hamilton, daughter of Cap- 
tain John Hamilton, one of the largest mer- 
chants in this part of Pennsylvania. This 
union has always been a great blessing to 
me, and I am sincerely thankful that it has 
been an unalloyed happiness to myself and 
my f amily. 

I began to build in 1793, and in 1795 we 
removed into the new house. In 1792, with- 
out solicitation on my part, Governor Mifflin 
sent me a commission as associate judge. I 
never knew who to thank for this act of 



friendship ; the Governor did not know me, 
and some person must have recommended 
me to him. My legal qualifications were 
very inadequate to the proper discharge of 
the duties of my new station, but consider- 
ing that a good exterior might be serviceable, 
I purchased a black suit and sixty dollars 
worth of law books. Nature had furnished 
me with a frowning look, which, with a 
black suit on, was construed into a wise one, 

and I did my duty as well as my associates. 

***** 

In 1793 Harrisburg was visited with an 
epidemic disease much resembling yellow 
fever, which carried off great numbers. My 
worthy and good friend Mr. Hamilton was 
among the first to fall. I felt ifc most se- 
verely from a sincere affection for the man, 
I was his partner and son-in-law, and I say 
he was a first rate citizen, a perfectly up- 
right and honest merchant, under a due 
sense of the responsibility of this opinion (8). 



III. 



In 1796, I entered into partnership with 
Mr. John Elder, (9) in the purchase of New 
Market Forge and lands, at the price of £22,- 
000, four thousand to be paid in hand and 
one thousand pounds the first day of May 
following, the remainder in heavy payments 
in the spi-ingof 1797. We took possession in 
1797. I removed my family to the Forge. 
We were as industrious and attentive as men 
could be, but had clouds and difficulties to 

struggle with. I was still in the Senate. * 

****** * * * ***** 

I determined never to run but willing to 
serve my constituents ; and was re-elected in 
1798 by a majority of 3, 651 votes. I had 
still one year to serve of the period for which 
I was last elected, but was fully determined 
at the end of that period to retire and never 
again to be found in the walk of Legislative 
life. While under the influence of this deter- 
mination, about the first of October, 1805, 
the Governor, Mr. McKean, sent for me and 
offered me the station of Registrar General 
of the accounts of the Commonwealth which 
after a few days hestitation I accepted, and 
on the 15th day of October, 1805, was com- 
missioned and sworn into office in wdiich ca- 
pacity I yet serve, with no intention of re- 
maining longer than the present Governor's 
term which expires in 1808. Having ac- 
cepted the office of .Registrar General, I be- 
gan to do precisely what ought to have 
done make a calculation on the cost,I agreed 



e 



Autobiography of 



to take it. The salary was $1,666 67. I 
could not remove the family to Lancaster, 
and live upon that salary — so fixed them at 
Palmyra, and hetook myself to Lancaster, 
where I was very lonely, hut was politely 
and hospitably welcomed. 

In the year 1791 the Assembly appointed 
me, in conjunction with Robert Harris (10) 
and Michael Kapp (11), commissioners to 
build a court house and public offices at Har- 
risburg. This we undertook and completed. 
By the act of Assembly, which authorized 
the erection of the building, three thousand 
pounds were appropriated for that purpose, 
and our compensation for constructing and 
superintending was 6 per cent, on the moneys 
expended. About this time strong hopes 
were entertained that the seat of government 
would be removed to Harrisburg, and by the 
advice of almost everybody in the county we 
laid our plans so large as to accommodate 
the Legislature in case they should choose to 
remove to that place, and in consequence of 
this enlargement the building cost £5,327.49. 
My enemies immediately laid hold on this, 
and although [here are some names erased] 
had advised it, with many others, said I had 
squandered upwards of £2,000 of the public 
money. They carefully left out the name of 
Robert Harris, who went hand in hand with 
me in all this business. Mr. Kapp, the 
other, stood aloof and wished success to the 
piosecutors, for I had offended him by pre- 
venting him from being coroner when he ran 
for it. 

This charge was handed to the court, who 
appointed auditors. The commissioners and 
grand jury had settled and approved the ac- 
counts, and from their knowledge of the 
trouble we had, allowed us two per cent, 
more on the monies expended over the £3,- 
000 than had been allowed by the act on that 
sum. We had, in the course of the bu'iness, 
paid out considerable sums for which we had 
no vouchers; but had our accounts, and thus 
satisfied the commissioners that they had 
been really and necessarity expended, for 
which they allowed under the denomination 
of clerk hire 83 dollars. Both of these 
items the auditors struck off and ordered 
them to be refunded. I refused and the 
business was left to the court and a jury 
specially called for the purpose, who ordered 
us to repay two per cent, on the monies 
spent over £3,000 and the 83 Dollars which 
had been allowed for contin ent expenses, 
which we did. 

In the summer of 1794 we were proceed- 



ing with building the Court House, when 
th inhabitants of the western part of the 
State exhibited symptoms of extreme dis- 
satisfaction with the operations of the law 
of Congress for raising and collecting an in- 
ternal excise. In Europe, from whence per- 
haps one-half of the inhabitants of Penn- 
sylvania had emigrated, excise laws were ex- 
tremely odious. They had been there en- 
gines of oppression in the hands of the Gov- 
ernment, and the moneys raised by them had 
been seen and known to be principally wasted 
in the collection, and thus the mere tools 
and minions of arbitrary Governments were 
fattening on the spoils of the laboring and 
industrious. In addition to this, an attempt 
of the British ministry to lay an excise on 
the American Colonies had been the cause of 
the war, which terminated so gloriously in 
the independence of the United States. A 
knowledge of these things induced the peo- 
ple of Pennsylvania to hate the very name 
of Excise. They did not reflect on the dif- 
ference between having indirect taxes of this 
description forced on them by an arbitrary 
master and of laying them on themselves 
through the medium of their own Repre- 
sentatives. I saw the rising dissatisfaction 
and viewed the probable event with horror in 
a Government framed by the people them- 
selves. To oppose the operation of any law 
by force was folly in the extreme, and sug- 
gested to my mind fears that a Republican 
Government could not in any nation long 
exist. The coal of discord was blown by two 
descriptions of persons very different in their 
views and intentions. * * * * 

In addition to these two parties sounding 
the trumpet of discord, the sober but honest, 
class of citizens had been alarmed at the 
official insolence displayed \>y the collectors, 
and by seeing men thrust into those employ- 
ments whose honesty was doubted and 
whose poverty was conspicuous, but who 
now reveled in wealth which every body 
knew could not be their own. I at once per- 
ceieved the propriety and necessity of sup- 
porting the Government, though I did not 
approve of the law, yet was determined to 
support it until we could have it regularly 
repealed by law. In this disposition, and 
with the most patriotic views, was I endeav- 
oring to reason this folly down, when news 
arrived that the Western people were in arms, 
and opposed and maltreated some collectors. 
Nothing was now heard but drums and war- 
like preparations, drafts were ordered from 
the militia, and a formidable army was 



John Kean, of Harrisburg. 



forming to march against our deluded breth- 
ren of the west. 



IV. 



There were many in Dauphin county who 
approved the proceedings oil the western peo- 
ple. * * * * Some persons inadvert- 
antly called a town meeting through the 
newspaper. I feared the result would he in 
favor of the insurgents, and therefore in- 
stantly drew up a set of resolutions appro- 
batory of the measures of Government and 
breathing subordination to and promising 
support of the laws. With this I ran to al- 
most all the inhabitants of the town who 
were called Democrats, requesting them to 
come to the meeting and showing them the 
necessity and propriety of adopting the res- 
olutions I had in my hand. I at that time 
was captain of a volunteer artillery company 
consisting of about seventy men. They all 
assured me of their support, as did most of 
the others I had spoken with. I felt then 
satisfied, and waited for the time of meeting 
in full confidence of adding the declaration 
of Harrisburg in tavor of law and good or- 
der. When the hour of meeting arrived and 
the people began to assemble, we found two 
firebrands with their party guarding the 
door and declaring the people should not 
meet. This was too much, and required 
some trouble to destroy the effects of such 
proceedings. Some moderate men prevented 
the parties from coming to blows, but no 
meeting was held. 

I have been thus particular in this busi- 
ness because I was afterwards represented as 
a leader in the work of disorganization and 
opposition to the Government, than which 
nothing was further from my thought or in- 
tention. I considered that the political sal- 
vation of the country and its republican in- 
stitutions depended upon an implicit and un- 
qualified submission to the laws. If they 
were improper or injudicious, they must be 
submitted to until regularly repealed in the 
mode pointed out by the Constitution. To 
oppose the execution of them by force was 
anarch}', from which the transition was 
natural and easy to despotism. Here is a 
circumstance (I would not relate this, only 
to show the character of some persons we 
have to deal with in this world.) * * * 

I heard my name mentioned, and heard 
the stranger say, ' 'if it was not for that fel- 
low we could rule the county, but his * * * * 
popularity destroys our cause." "Yes," 
said , "I wish he was out of the way. It 



would be doing God service. ***** 
"I hope somebody will do it, for he is the 
idol of the people, and is still preaching 
Equality of Eights, which the mob were 
never made to enjoy. Let us either kill him 
or destroy his popularity by some means, or 
we shall never rise. After this pious con- 
clusion, they went out of my hearing. At 

this time I was bail for for upwards 

of 3,000 dollars. Such is this world's grati- 
tude. "Hide me from the secret counsel of 
the wicked, from the insurrection of the 
workers of iniquity;" said Luther, "I could 
be proud upon it that I have a bad name 
among wicked men. " 

The militia were now marching in from 
all quarters on their route westward to quell 
the whisky insurrection. The court house 
building was progressing, and scaffold poles 
erected, on one of which the bricklayers, as is 
customary, hung a white flag or cloth. In 
the western counties the erection of flags had 
been a symptom of insurrection. This our 
bricklayers, I believe, had either never heard, 
or if they had did not think of. At all 
events it had no political reference. How- 
ever my opponents no sooner saw it than 
they attacked me in the newspapers as the 
author and abettor of this monstrous symbol 
of sedition ; but here they were wrong. I 
was not in the county when it was erected 
and to the best of my recollection the first 
notice I had of such a thing being in exist- 
ence was by the newspaper in which a cor- 
respondent poured forth a torrent of abuse, 
and a newspaper war commenced in which I 
was so lucky as to make my opponents ap- 
pear both wicked and ridiculous. The flag 
in question had been taken down and another 
substituted, which bore the inscription 
"Liberty and Equality." (12) 

My antagonists, de r eated in this attempt, 
had recourse to another and what they 
thought a sure expedient to effect my ruin. 
They waited upon General Proctor (13) and 
Col. Gurney (14), who were then in town 
with troops, and represented me as an enemy 
to the Government and supporter of this flag; 
that I had a number of men marshalled to 
oppose the army, and that an insurrection 
was as ripe in Harrisburg, under my direc- 
tion, as it could be m the western counties. 
These officers heard the dreadful tale and 
ordered the flag immediately to be cut down 
and that I should be arrested; both of which 
were done, and I appeared before them as a 
prisoner. When I entered the room the offi- 
cers appeared violently enraged, and in a 



£ 



Autobiography of 



very harsh manner demanded what I had to 
say for myself; that they were creditably 
informed I was a notorious offender and in- 
surgent. To be tried by a military tribunal ; 
the thought was dreadful. I summoned 
resolution enough to tell my story — a plain, 
unvarnished narrative of facts. They 
listened with surprise, and when I had 
finished told me if I could substantiate what 
I had said they would dismiss me. I re- 
ferred to the newspapers and a copy of the 
resolutions intended to have been offered at 
the meeting. These were produced by some 
respectable neighbors; which were no sooner 
read than I was discharged, after drinking 
some wine with the officers. 

Thus another attempt, aimed even at my 
life, was baffled. I say aimed at my life, 
for sedition was by the law treason, and 
treason death. Previous to this my friends 
had often requested me to suffer my name 
to be run for the Legislature. I had always 
retused. After this usage, however, I be- 
came ambitious and wished to eclipse those 
who had thus troubled me, as well as to 
vindicate my character as an upright citizen. 
Thus it happened that in October, 1794, I 
was elected a Senator to represent the Berks 
and Dauphin district in the State Legisla- 
ture. 



V. 
In 1793 and 1794, I had been appointed 
executor of several estates. The weight of 
the accounts lying still on my hands unset- 
tled, required my continued attendance at 
Harrisburg much to the inj ury of my other 
business. This caused us to remove to Har- 
risburg, which we did in the spring of 1802. 
My business there was the settling of ac- 
counts of the estate of Capt. Hamilton and 
superintending of the property taken at the 
appraisement in the summer, and attending 
my legislative duties in the winter, for I was 
this fall elected for the third time to the 
Senate. In the course of this political con- 
test my opponent, , aided by a band of 

office huntcTS, instigated one Benjamin 
Mayer (14), a German printer, to abuse me 
in his paper, which he did in a most unwar- 
rantable manner, and for which I sued him. 
He was found guilty and fined. I also re- 
covered 300 dollars damages from him, which 
I would not use, but when I removed to Pal- 
myra I built a stone schoolhouse with it as 
far as it went, and finished it with my own 
money. [We had all the expenses of the 



school house, but I used them to kindle the 
fire — J. D. K] This, although taking ven- 
geance on my enemies, was by no means sat- 
isfactory to me. I had spent the prime of 
my life in Harrisburg, and had upon all oc- 
casions done every thing in my power for the 
benefit of that place. 

In the summer of 1803 we sold some part 
of the property which had belonged to my 
father-in-law's estate and purchased a house 
and nine acres of land in Palmyra, about 
three miles from the Forge, to which we re- 
moved in April, 1804, awd here we again 
opened a store. In the winter following, I 
attended my duties as a Senator in perhaps 
as trying times as ever existed. Duane (15), 
an Irish emigrant, by means of his paper, 
the Aurora, had rendered the people of 
Pennsylvania dissatisfied with their form of 
government and stirred up a desire to change 
the Constitution. In all the evils and bick- 
erings of party, I had never apprehended 
equal mischiefs to this. The former disputes 
between those in and those out of office I 
had received with indifference to what I did. 
Duane and his party, in order to obtain 
power, endeavored to unhinge every social 
tie and give the reign to anarchy. This da- 
ring attempt I exposed in a letter to my con- 
stituents which went the round of all the 
newspapers and brought out the whole fury 
of anarchy upon me ; but I had the consola- 
tion that my letter stood the test, and in- 
stead of confuting my arguments they only 
answered me with personal abuse and tor- 
rents of scurillity. 

In 1805, Gov. McKean tendered me the po- 
sition of Registrar General to succeed Mr. 
Duffield. I hesitated, but at length accepted. 
Then I began to calculate the cost of living 
at Lancaster. This should have been a pre- 
paratory step, but it was too late to refuse, 
and I found the expense would swallow up 
the whole salary, $1,333 per year. We de- 
termined that the family should remain at 
Palmyra, in Dauphin county, and that my 
public life should end with the present Gov- 
ernor's time. Having in public life seen a 
little of the world, I can now with certainty 
pronounce that the post of honor is a private 
station ; and now I can with calm attention 
resurvey my transactions; and am in this 
retrospect, so happy as to have the full ap- 
probation of my own conscience. Having 
had to mix with politicians of all sides and 
descriptions, my political course has been the 
same, and I have steadily pursued the prin- 
ciples which gave Freedom to America, but 



John Kean, of Harrisburg. 



9 



have often found my course crossed by those 
•changelings who were one day on one side 
and the next day something else. * * * * 
I am now looking with anxiety formext De- 
•cember, which will again restore me to the 
arms of my family, and from which no ex- 
pectation of emolument shall again tear me, 
for with them I am aud can be happy. 

Postscript by Miss Kean. — I expect 
father intended to finish his recollections, 
•of which I send you some extracts. 

The year he was called away, he had 
been all summer every leisure moment, look- 
ing over papers, and those that were of no 
.account he burned. Others tied in packages 
and labeled. In 1810 the family removed to 
Philadelphia and commenced a wholesale 
grocery. Father indorsed for an old friend a 
shipping merchant, the ships were lost, and 
father's and as much of my mother's estate 
as could be, were taken to pay the indorsement. 
Then they returned to Harrisburg in the 
•spring of 1813, rented opposite the court 
house where Dock's house now stands, lived 
there two years then moved to the house 
-which stands between the house lately Mr. 
Hamilton Alricks and the house of Mr. Wm, 
Brady, the jeweler. Father wrote deeds and 
other conveyances and held the office of Jus- 
tice of the Peace. His office was a frame 
building fronting on the court house pave- 
ment where Brant's hall now stands. One 
evening the last of November, 1818, as he 
was coming home, it had been a rainy day and 
the stones on the crossing at Third and Mar- 
ket streets, were large and round, full of ice 
and slippery as glass, he fell. By this acci- 
dent he fractured one of his ancles. His 
death from this accident was from lockjaw 
December 9, 1818. 

Harrisburg, June, 1874. 

Notes. 

1. Captain John Kean, born in the 
province of Ulster, Ireland, in 1728; emi- 
grated in 1742, when 14 years of age, with 
some relatives of his family; established his 
business at Philadelphia about 1760; died at 
Harrisburg in 1801 at the age of 73. Captain 
Kean married in 1760 Mary Dunlap, born in 
1721; came to Philadelphia 1735; died at 
Harrisburg in 1819, aged 98 years. Their 
only descendant was General John Kean, 
author of these reminiscenses. Mr. Kean, 
the elder, was a tanner by trade; and many 
persons are yet living who were accmainted 
with his very aged widow, who died in the 
bouse now numbered 306, on Market, near 
Third street, Harrisburg. 



2. Robert McKee, of Derry, was an 
officer in the Pennsylvania militia from 1777 
to 1781. He was born in what is at present 
Conewago township, Dauphin county, near 
Conewago creek, and died on a beautiful 
farm he owned there. He was known as 
"Col. McKee," as there was a cousin Robert 
in the same township, who was known as 
"Captain McKee. " The first named d. in 
1794; his wife Isabella Sample prior to 1816, 
and their children were : 

i. James; d. s. p. 

ii. John; d. s. p. 

in. Robert; d. s. p. 

iv. Henry; d. s. p. 

v. Sample; m. and removed to Western 
Pennsylvania. 

m. Isabella; m. David Dempsey, of Ve- 
nango county. 

3. James Clunie, son of James and 
Elizabeth Clunie, was a native of Scotland, 
born in 1761. He was brought up as a mer- 
chant, and towards the close of the Revolu- 
tion established himself in business with his 
father at Hummelstown. It is more than 
probable that he saw service in the war for 
Independence. Sometime after the death of 
his father he removed to Harrisburg. He 
was appointed October 3, 1785, collector of 
Excise for Dauphin county, at the same time 
holding the office of Agent for Forfeited 
Estates He was elected sheriff, commis- 
sioned 20th Octobei\ 17SS, and upon the 
resignation of David Harris appointed by 
Governor Mifflin February 23, 1792, one of 
the Associate Judges of the county. He 
died suddenly at Harrisburg September 14, 
1793. Judge Clunie was an intelligent, 
high minded gentleman, and very popular 
among the people. His appointment to the 
Bench was warmly pressed by them against 
the bitter opposition of the leading politi- 
cians. The Governor, however, did not 
hesitate in commissioning Mr. Clunie. He 
resided at the corner of Front and Walnut 
streets at his death. This property is now 
the residence of James McCormick, Esq. 

This lot was numbered 49, and extended 
from Front street to River alley. The fol- 
lowing is a copy of the settlement made with 
the executors of Harris: 

"Jame Clunie, to Lott No. 49, 

April 14, 1785, Dr £100.0.0 

To interest thereon to the present 

time, being 7 years 42.0.0 



£142.0.0 



10 



Autobiography of 



Credit Mr. Clunie with the bal- 
lanee on account, this day ex- 
hibited, against the estate of 
John Harris, deceased 



8.2.6 



£133.18.0 
June 27, 1792. 

[Signed in a fine open hand.] 

James Clunie." 

The original cost of the lot was $266 67. 

Gen. Hanna, William Maclay, Alexander 
Graydon, Adam B'oyd, Andrew Gregg all 
spelled lot with a double "t, " and balance 
with double "1." 

4. Robert Whitehill, b. July 24, 1735, 
in Salisbury township, Lancaster county, 
Penna; d. April 8, 1813, in Pennsboro' 
township, Cumberland county, son of James 
and Rachel (Cresswell) Whitehill. He was 
a pupil of the Rev. Robert Smith, who was 
called to pi each at Pequea church in the 
year 1750, purchased a farm adjoining the 
Whitehills and established a classical school. 
Robert was also a pupil of Rev. Francis 
Alison's school at New London Cross 
Roads. About the year 1772 he removed to 
Cumberland county two miles west of Har- 
risburg, the site of the present orphans' 
school, where he resided until his death. He 
married in 1757, Eleanor Reed, daughter of 
Adam Reed, Esq., of Hanover; they had 
eight children, of whom Mary m. Judge 
Kean, Rachel m. Alexander MacBeth, and 
Elizabeth m. Richard M. Crain. Mr. White- 
hill in 1779 represented his county in the 
Supreme Executive Council, and in 1784 
chosen to the General Assembly. He was 
a member of the Pennsylvania Conven- 
tion to ratify the Federal Constitution, 
of which instrument he was one of the most 
formidable opponents, and one of the leaders 
in the Harrisburg conference of 1788. He 
was a fluent speaker, logical and forcible, 
and it is to be regretted that his remarks dur- 
ing the debates were not reported by Lloyd, 
who seems only to have taken down the i - e- 
marks of those favorable to the Constitution. 
Mr. Whitehill served in the Council of Cen- 
sors and as a delegate to the first and second 
Constitutional conventions of the State. 
Under that of 1790 he was elected member 
of the House of Representatives from 1797 
to 1801, of the Senate from 1801 to 1804, ojE 
which latter body he was speaker. In 1805 
he was elected to Congress, and continued to 
be a member thereof until his death. His 
remains are interred in Silvers Spring Presby- 
terian graveyard. 



5. Mr. Kean was a member of "the Har- 
risburg Conference" in September, 1788, 
which suggested many amendments to the 
Constitution of the United States. Most of 
them were adopted in a few years, and gave- 
the Constitution the popularity which it has 
since enjoyed. This conference was com- 
posed of experienced and educated gentle- 
men from most of the counties of the State. 
Amongst its members were Findley of West- 
moreland, Whitehill of ' 'umberland, Smilie- 
of Washington, Gallatin of Fayette, Hanna 
and Kean of Dauphin, and Bryan and Mc- 
Clenachan of Philadelphia, all gentlemen of 
acknowledge! ability. 

6. Mr. Kean was the second treasurer of 
the Presbyterian congregation, president of 
the first fire company, an original manager 
of the Library company, and after the death 
of John Harris and John Hamilton a trustee 
of the Harrisburg Academy with Adam Boyd 
and Dr. John Luther. 

7. Alexander Berryhill, son of 
Andrew Berryhill, was born in Paxtang 
township, Lancaster, now Dauphin county, 
in 1738. He secured a good education, 
served in the war of the Revolution, and 
was prominent and influential in the organi- 
zation of the new county of Dauphin. He 
became one of the first residents of Harris- 
burg on its being laid out in 1785, and after 
its incorporation as a borough he was ap- 
pointed one of its justices of the peace by 
Gov. Mifflin. He was one of the burgesses, 
of the town in 1794, and signed the address 
to President Washington on his way west- 
ward to quell the so-called Whiskey Insur- 
rection. He died at Harrisburg September 
7, 1798 at the age of sixty years. Mr. 
Berryhill was an excellent penman and 
many of his papers still extant are models 
of chirography. 

8. John Hamilton, the only child of 
John Hamilton and Jane Allen, daughter of 
Robert Allen, was born in Chester county in 
1749; married Margaret, daughter of Hon. 
Hugh Alexander, born 1754, married 1772. 
Mr. Hamilton was one of the earliest pur- 
chasers from Harris. Erected a store house 
on the line of what is now known as Mul- 
berry street, between Second and Third 
streets, as early as 1770; was the first who, 
on a well organized system, "packed over the- 
mountains" to Pittsburg; a captain of 
horse in the Revolution; farmer, 
merchant, miller, in everything enthu- 
siastic, energetic, intelligent. His edu- 
cation was good, his judgment clear; in per- 



John Kean, of Harrisburg. 



11 



son erect, quite six feet in heighth ; a florid, 
handsome man. His residence was on 
Front street, corner of Blackberry alley, 
having paid the high price of £120 for his 
lot March 3, 1786. Three days after his 
opposite neighbor, Henry Fulton, 

paid a like amount for his. 
Harris notes these transactions as un- 
usual, as both fee and ground rent were ex- 
tinguished in a single payment. His estate 
is rated on the Mill Purchase £53 14. He 
died and is buried at Harrisburg. This mar- 
riage of Mr. Kean, made him brother-in-law 
to John and Hugh Hamilton, Moses Mac- 
lean, James Alricks, Jacob Spangler, all 
prominent and respectable gentlemen. 

9. John Elder was the second son of 
the Rev. John Elder, of Pax tang, b. August 
3, 1757, d. April 27, 1811, and is buried in 
Paxtang church graveyard. He served in 
the Revolution as an ensign in Col. Burd's 
battalion; was deputy surveyor in 1780, and 
sheriff of Dauphin county from 1794 to 1797. 
He was an enterprising man, erecting the 
first steel plant in this State at Middletown, 
but like the forge it did not prove a success- 
ful business. His wife was Elizabeth Awl, 
daughter of Jacob Awl, of Paxtang. 

10. Robert Harris, son of John Harris 
the founder of Harrisburg, was born at 
Harris' Ferry, Sept. 5, 1768, and d. there 
Sept. 3, 1851. Fie filled various positions 
of honor, apart from the commission re- 
ferred to by Mr. Kean. During the war of 
1812-14, he was paymaster of the Pennsyl- 
vania troops, and upon the removal of the 
State government from Lancaster was 
one of the commissioners for fixing the loca- 
1ion of the Capitol buildings at Harrisburg. 
He served in Congress two terms from 1823 
to 1827. He was one of the most active and 
energetic men of his day, was possessed of 
great public spirit and aided in the establish- 
ment of various enterprises, including the 
bridge over the Susquehanna, the Harris 
burg Bank, and several turnpike companies. 
* 12. Michael Kapp was an early lot 
holder. He resided on Market square, where 
Mr. Zollinger's hat store is at present, and 
there died. He must not be confounded 
with a gentleman of similar name, a nail 
maker, on the corner of the square and 
Strawberry alley. 

12. Mr. Gray don speaks of this occur- 
rence in his ''Memoirs," as follows: 

"The Western Expedition, as it was 
called, gave me an opportunity of seeing a 
number of my old friends from Philadelphia; 
and it afforded also a momentary triumph to 



the poor handful of Harrisburg federalists, 
who were stated by their opponents to 
amount to only five. 

"A French flag, which had been flying at 
the Court House, then building, had been 
the cause of some squabbling in the news- 
papers; and this flag was peremptorily 
ordered to be taken down by the troops from 
the city. Had I been disposed for revenge, I 
might, upon this occasion, have been fully 
gratified, as I was repeatedly asked who had 
caused it to be put up. and impliedly 
censured for giving evasive answer* to the 
questions, which, from their manner, 
evinced a disposition to treat the authors 
much more roughly than would have been 
agreeable to me. 

"Conspicuous among the crowd that rolled 
on to the eastward was Gov. Mifflin. On the 
day of his arrival he convened the people at 
the market house and gave them an animated 
harangue, in which there was nothing excep- 
tionable, save a monstrous suggestion that 
the British had stirred up the discontents to 
the westward, and been the cause of the 
present opposition to the Government. 

"A few days after the Governor, and Gen. 
Washington, accompanied by Col. Hamilton, 
fame on. After waiting on them, I pre- 
vailed upon the Burgesses to present an ad- 
dress to the President, which I sketched out, 
and which, from the cordiality of the 
answer, appeared to have been well re- 
ceived." 

13. Thomas Proctor, eldest son of Fran- 
cis Proctor was a native of Ireland b. in 
1739. His father emigrated to America 
about 1750, locating in Philadelphia, where 
the son pursued the occupation of a carpen- 
ter, in which business he was actively en- 
gaged when the war for independence began. 
He at once espoused the patriot cause and in 
1775 commanded an artillery company, sub- 
sequently promoted to major and to colonel 
of the Fourth regiment of artillery, Penn'a 
Line. His services during the Rev- 
olution were eminently patriotic and val- 
uable. During the Whiskey Insurrection he 
was placed in command of the First Brigade 
of the Penn'a forces. In 1796 he was com- 
missioned a Major General of the militia. 
He also served as sheriff of Philadelphia 
from 1783 to 1785, and in 1790 City Lieu- 
tenant. In 1791 he was commissioned by tie 
Secretary of War to undertake a mission to 
the Six Nations in New York. General Proc- 
tor died at Philadelphia March 16th, 1807, 
aged 67 years. 

14. Francis Gueney was a native of 



12 



Autobiography of 



Bucks count}', Penna., where he was born in 
1738. He entered mercantile life, and be- 
came a successful merchant in Philadelphia. 
When the Revolution opened, having served 
as a volunteer in the French and Indian war, 
he was commissioned a captain, and 
afterwards promoted to lieutenant colonel 
in the Eleventh regiment of the 
Penn'a Line. He served with honor and dis- 
tinction throughout the war. On the res- 
toration of peace, in 1783, he resumed his 
mercantile pursuits, which he continued until 
within a year or two of his death. He also 
served in varieus civil offices, Warden of the 
Port, Alderman of the city, member of the 
Assembly, etc. He was commissioned Col- 
onel of the First Regiment of the Philadel- 
phia Brigade in 1786, and acting as such was 
in service dufimr the Whiskey Insurrection. 
He died on the 25th of May, 1815. 

14. Benjamin Mayer issued the Harris- 
burg Zeitung in March, 1794, a German pa- 
per which soon became a prime factor in the 
social and political life of the town. Mayer 
was a vigorous politician, wielding consider- 
able personal influence, although he never 
held office. His office was at the southeast 
corner of Chestnut street and Dewberry 
alley. He was the son of Isaac and Catha- 
rine Maj'er, and died at Harrisburg May 18, 
1824, in his 62d year. 

15. William Duane was a native of the 
State of New York where he was born in 
1760 and died in Philadelphia in 1835. A 
man of vigorous mind, bold and facile pen, 
of fine culture and high social position. He 
was editor of the Aurora, at Philadelphia, 
the mouth piece of President Jefferson, and 
the leading political journal of the country 
— certainly of this State, at the moment of 
which Kean writes. 

Family Record. — In connection with the 
foregoing autobiography, it is proper to give 
the following, derived principally "from a 
Bible belonging to John Kean, Jr. : 

John Kean, Sen'r., was born at Bally - 
mony, in the Kingdom of Ireland, the 5th 
day of July, 1728, and came into Pennsyl- 
vania about 14 years of age. Died at Har- 
risburg 23tb May, 1801, aged 73 years. 

Mary Dunlap, his wife, was born in Ire- 
land, near Cloiher, in the year 1721, and 
came inio Pennsylvania at about 22 years of 
age. Died •July 9th, 1819, aged 98 years. 

John Kean was born in the city of Phila- 
delphia, October 3d, A. D. 1762. Died at 
Harrisburg December 9th, A. D. 1818, aged 
56 years, two months and 6 days. 



Mary, the daughter of Robert and Elea- 
nor Whitehill, of Cumberland County, in 
Pennsylvania, was born Feb'y 7, 1762; on 
1st May, 1786, was married to John Kean; 
and died Sept. 11th, 1787, leaving one 
daughter named Eleanor. 

Eleanor Kean was born at Harrisburg, in 
Penn'a, Feb'y 1st, 1787, and died May 
30th, 1865, at Humnielstown, aged 78 years, 
3 months, and 30 days. 

Jane Hamilton, the second wife of John 
Kean; was a daughter of Capt. John Hamil- 
ton, Avas born in Cumberland, now Juniata, 
County, Penn'a, June 1st, 1774; and died 
at Harrisburg, March 20th, 1847, aged 72 
years, 9 months, and 20 clays. 

John Hamilton Kean was born at Harris- 
burg, the 21st day of January, 1795, and 
dieu of the smallpox 14th of July, 1795. 

Mary Kean was born at Harrisburg, Feb- 
ruary 21st, 1797, and died 21st April, 1803, 
aged 6 years and 2 months. 

Louisa Kean was born at New Market 
Forge, in Dauphin county, Penna., July 
30th, 1799. 

Margaret Matilda Kean was horn at 
Palmstown, in the county of Dauphin, Feb- 
ruary 17th, 1806; joined the Presbyterian 
church in Harrisbu-g on the 7th or 14th of 
July, 1850, and died at Harrisburg on the 
11th of October, 1855. 

Jane Kean was born at Palmyra, Dauphin 
county, January 3d, 1809; was baptized in 
infancy by the Rev. James Sharon, of Der- 
ry ; a Presbyterian in the church in Harris- 
burg, under the care of Rev. W. R. DeWitt, 
November, 1833: and was baptized in the 
Susquehanna river by the Rev. William Mc- 
Fadden, August 13th, 1847, and gave in her 
name, Jane Duffield Kean. 

To the foregoing, the following informa- 
tion is added : 

Elpanor Whitehill Kean married Dr. Wil- 
liam Patton, of Derry township, Dauphin 
county and had issue: 

Mary' Patton married James Clarke, of 
Hummelstown; died without issue. 

Eleanor married, secondly, Christian 
Spayd, of Hummelstown; had descendants. 
All died without issue except Mary Eleanor 
Spayd, who mrrried John Metz, a merchant 
of Chambersburg. 

Louisa Kean married Gen. Samuel Power, 
of Beaver county ; had a daughter, who died 
young. 

No descendants of Jane Hamilton and 
John Kean survive. 



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